Merchandise display cap for mechanical pencils



May 15, 1956 M. v. NELSON y 2,745,198

MERCHANDrsE DISPLAY CAP FCR MECHANICAL PENCILS Filed Nov. 5. 1951 UnitedStates Patent" MERCHANDISE DISPLAY CAP FOR MECHANICAL Y PENCILS l V"Melven Nelson, Chicago, Ill., assigner, by mesne lassgnrnents, lto CoryCorporation, a corporation :of Dela- ,ware l v The present inventionrelates to a novel merchandise display cap for a mechanical pencil inwhich the cap is transparent for visual display and provided with acavity at one end forming a sealing enclosure for receiving anddisplaying any suitable merchandise such as either a liquid or flowablemass of solid particles or granular material, and at its other endadapted to receive and enclose the eraser of the pencil.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a novelmerchandise display cap for a mechanical pencil comprising a hollowcapsule providing a most effective display means as well as a protectivecap or enclosure for the eraser.

The present invention further comprehends the provision of a novelconstruction and assembly of a merchandise display cap including ahollow or recessed transparent capsule having a band of metal or thelike encompassing the lower, open end of the capsule to provide for thedisplay of suitable advertising or printed matter and for reinforcingthe capsule.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity,efficiency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such furtherobjects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear andare inherently possessed thereby.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a mechanical pencil equippedwith the novel display cap containing a liquid such as oil.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the pencil equipped with a similardisplay cap but containing ilowable solid particles or granularmaterial.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, enlarged View in vertical or longitudinal crosssection through the novel display cap and the adjacent upper end of thepencil to show the manv ner in which the eraser is received within theenlarged cavity or hollow lower end of the cap of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged View in vertical cross section of thedisplay cap of Fig. 2 but with the pencil and cap disposed in aninclined plane and showing the position assumed by the flowable mass ofsolid particles or granular m-aterial in the capsule.

Referring more particularly to the novel display cap illustrated in theseveral views of the drawing, the only difference between the form orembodiment of Figs. l and 3 and that of Figs. 2 and 4, is that the capof Figs. l and 3 is provided at its lower end with an' outwardly flaredportion and the encompassing metal band is provided with a ferruletightly embracing this flared end portion. Al-

y though the embodiment of Figs. l and 3 is shown containing anddisplaying a liquid such as oil and that of Figs. 2 and 4 is shown ascontaining and displaying a ilowable mass of granular material or solidparticles 11, it will be evident that either a liquid or a owable solidmass may be employed and sealed in either embodiment, depending upon theproduct of the particular manufacturer or advertiser to be displayed.

The display cap of the present invention comprises a ice transparentcapsule 12 formed of any. suitable plastic composition capable ofwithstanding the hard usage and abuse to which such a cap may besubjected in use, and to positively seal and-maintain the contentsagainst leakage. The contents to be received and displayed, whether anoil or other liquid 10, or a iiowable massv of solid particles orgranular material 11, is sealed within the cavity 13 at the upper orouter end of the ,capsule-f Such sealing is eli'ected by a closure ordisc 14 conformably receivedin a shoulder` or ledge 15 and cementedoradhesively axed to the shoulder to assure a tight seal. p

As shownyin Figs. 3 and 4, the hollow interior of the capsule isprovided with stepped enlargements formed by the shoulder, ledge oroffset 15 and a second annular shoulder or olfset 16 spaced from theshoulder or offset 15 and adapted to receive and form a stop for thebead 17 of an eraser bushing 18, the exposed upper end of the eraser 19being received within the capsule in the space beneath the sealingclosure or disc 14 and between it and the shoulder or offset 16.

The exterior of the capsule is reduced in diameter for approximately thelower half of its length to receive a band or sleeve Z1 preferably ofmetal or material adapted to receive any suitable or desirableadvertising matter. The lower open end of the capsule of Figs. l and 3is flared at 22 and the band or sleeve 21 is provided at its lower endwith a ferrule or bead 23 encompassing the flared portion. In Figs. 2and 4, the lower end of both the capsule and of the band or sleeve arestraight, but in both forms of the invention the lower end thereof abutsthe upper end 24 of the barrel Z5 of the pencil 26 with the head 27 ofthe pencil projecting upwardly into the capsule and at its upper endreceiving the bushing 18 and its eraser 19. This head is preferablyformed integral or as the projecting end of a metal tube 28 conformablyreceived and secured to or ailixed in the hollow barrel Z5, and isprovided with spaced spring tongues 29 projecting outwardly from thehead 27 to provide an expanding gripping means tensionally engaging theadjacent interior wall of the cap and retaining the latter upon thepencil.

From the above disclosure, it will be apparent that the present displaycap assembly provides a novel means and manner for receiving anddisplaying the contained liquid or flowable or shiftable mass of solidor granular particles, as well as a novel cap assembly for receiving andprotecting the eraser of the pencil.

It is to be noted that the cavity of the capsule whether containing a4liquid or solid or granular particles, is not completely filledtherewith. A floating air bubble is provided in the liquid ller whichshifts or moves as the pencil is moved to or held at different angularpositions. Similarly, the owable mass of solid particles or granularmaterial when displayed in the present novel capsule, does notcompletely till the cavity provided therefor so that this mass is mobileand may shift its position as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

A display cap detachably and frictionally mounted on and encompassingthe upper end of a pencil -and enclosing an eraser and its bushing inthe upper end of the barrel of the pencil with the eraser exposed uponremoval of the cap, said cap visably displaying a product containedtherein and comprising a transparent cylindrical capsule providing aremovable cap slidably and frictionally mounted on the eraser end of thepencil and removable therefrom to expose the eraser, the interior of thecapsule being hollow to provide an upper display cavity and a lowerenclosure for the eraser, its bushing and the adjacent upper end of thebarrel, the interior of said capsule having spaced annular shouldersproviding stepped enlargements with the upper shoulder located at thelower end of the cavity, the

. i 3` upper cavity vreceiving'and displaying a flowable masspzrtialyilingth'e cavity Handyieiifable through the transparent wall, aclosure for the lower end of the display cavityrand, aliggeclA to theuppeg shoulder in the .interior o fA thqcap'to seal'hej cavity andjtscontents againstlea`. 2.il,,` theY hollow inferior of the .cap below theclosure conformably receiving andprotectin-gz,T the eraser on the upperend off the barrel with another of VsaidA shoulders beingy 1ocatedbeiovy'saivdclosure and'between itand thelowei: end o ffthej cap topmvde a stop for the upper end of the eraser bushing andilocatingtheeraser Within the hollow of theV capbeneath the closure., thelowerportion of the exterior ofthexcapjfrom adjacent the closure to the"lower end of the cap being reduced in diameter and provided with a bandof n onftransparent material" tightly encompassing and` reinforcing theendof the cap of reduced 364,916 Goldsmith June 14, 1887 505,823 Faber-Oct. 3, 1893n 1,435,302y Isaacson- Nov. 14, 1922 2,215,084 Neal Sept.17, 1940 2,304,522 Wuestman'- Dec. 8, 1942' 2,502,328 Kuhn Mar. 28,19502,533,668 Hicks Dec. 12, 1950 FOREIGN PATENT Sv 1,064,486 FranceV Dec.23, 1953

